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Texas Wesleyan School of Law marked its 20th anniversary in 2009, and kicked off celebrations with two events on Friday, Sept. 25.

The first was a preview of the Chief Justice Joe Greenhill collection held in the law school’s Bernie Schuchmann Conference Center on Friday evening. More than 100 members of the law school community and the Greenhill family were in attendance as a preview of Greenhill’s memorabilia was revealed. Dean Frederic White provided the opening remarks and was followed by Michelle Rigual, director of the Dee J. Kelly law library and professor of law.

Tracy Stearns Bush receives the Chief Justice Joe Greenhill scholarship from Craig Woodcook.

Rigual said the library will be creating a special collections room for the Greenhill memorabilia which will include gavels, awards, bench chairs and other items from his tenure in the legal profession. Dee J. Kelly and Chief Justice John H. Cayce also spoke about their experiences with Greenhill.

“Greenhill is a person of statue and distinction,” Cayce said. “His contributions to the legal profession are great and varied.”

3LTracy Stearns Bush was awarded the first ever Chief Justice Joe Greenhill scholarship which was presented to her by Craig Woodcook ’05, law school alumni association board member. The scholarship is funded by the alumni association’s annual golf tournament and is presented to a law student who excels academically and plans to work in public service.

The event ended with a video presentation chronicling Greenhill’s life. Law school librarians then provided tours of the memorabilia in the law school’s library.

Following the Greenhill memorabilia preview, attendees were invited across the street to the Ashton Depot. More than 250 members of the law school community were on hand as Dean White recognized all the past deans of the

Dean Frank Elliott, Dean Frederic White, Rita O'Donald Noel, Dean Frederick Slabach and Dean Richard Gershon

law school: Frank Elliott, Frank Walwer, Richard Gershon, Frederick Slabach and Interim Dean Cynthia Fountaine.

“Each one of these individuals played an important part in shaping this school into what is it today,” Dean White said.

Chuck Noteboom received the Steve Chaney Friend of the Law School Award and Fountaine received the Richard Gershon Leadership Award. Texas State Rep. Phil King, the first student admitted into the law school 20 years ago, presented a proclamation commending the law school on its 20th anniversary. The event ended with a historical video presentation celebrating the law school’s first 20 years.